Alfa Romeo continues its legacy of high class and power with the 2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio — the new boss of the road.

If you ask me, Alfa Romeo established its brand when it was featured in The Godfather: Part II back in 1974. The 6C is Michael Corleone’s car during his exile in Sicily. It is a part of some of the trilogy’s most important scenes, one in particular that changes Michael forever: Apollonia, the love of his life, learns to drive with this car, and in it she meets her death. The company’s decision to be a part of this cult classic illuminated the fact that this is a brand with class, power and high status — fit for a Godfather. Fast-forward 44 years to 2018, and Alfa Romeo has come out with another bang: the Giulia Quadrifoglio. A car that intimidates its competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz, maintains the brand’s reputation by setting track records, and has that Italian style with an interior and exterior second to none.

The new Giulia Quadrifoglio displays the best power-to-weight ratio in a class that includes Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M3, with a near 3 kg/hp. Alfa Romeo says it’s all about how to use that power, with the 50/50 weight distribution producing ideal balance and showcasing the advantage of a rear-wheel-drive system in a front-engine sedan by combining rear-wheel drive with the Giulia’s front-mounted, all-aluminum, twin-turbo V-6 engine. The Giulia Quadrifoglio is the only sedan in the world to have an active aero front splitter. This adaptable carbon fibre spoiler is combined into the front lower fascia. Refined and electronically governed, it vigorously balances and alters overall downforce. On straights, the splitter closes to reduce resistance and drag. If that weren’t already enough to crush the AMG and the M3, on corners and when braking, the front splitter opens to give 100 kilos of downforce for the best possible balance.

Alfa Romeo has been involved in car racing since 1911, so it only makes sense that the company has made a conscious choice to focus on the speed and power of this car. Although they may have lost that focus for a couple of years, they definitely reclaimed their legacy this year at the Nürburgring test track in Germany when the Giulia beat the Porsche Panamera Turbo as the fastest sedan in the ring. It was initially reported that the Panamera Turbo had beaten the Giulia by one second, but in a do-over, the Alfa Romeo was able to get itself around the track .06 seconds quicker than the Porsche, stealing the title back. For those who might have thought the Alfa family didn’t have that kind of power anymore, this further solidifies their reborn reputation and is a reminder of their 107 years of experience in making cars drive fast.

Born in Milano, Italy, the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s exterior was destined to have that iconic Italian design. Alfa Romeo has perfectly combined the rich history of the brand’s style with a modern-day sophistication. The car puts the driver in a trance with a mix of state-of-the-art technology, seductive styling and race-inspired performance. The Giulia definitely has an eye-catching presence on the road with the dominance of a don — there’s no way you would miss this beauty driving by. That Italian essence is carried through internally, as the driver is the centre of this car’s universe. Giulia’s high-quality craftsmanship begins with an asymmetric instrument panel, emphasizing the driver’s cockpit. It’s wrapped in ultra-premium leather and Alcantara with accents of authentic carbon fibre and aluminum stitching — a tailored look that could only be made in Italy.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio is an in-your-face reminder that Alfa Romeo is the boss of the road. It wipes out its competitors like BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, Godfather style. Giulia is the only car in its class with an active aero front splitter, which completely enhances the driver experience, pairing perfectly with the way the interior of the vehicle is crafted for comfort and skilful driving. This is a brand that refuses to be second place, as seen when Alfa Romeo aggressively took back their track title of having the fastest sedan. Cleary, Alfa Romeo created the Giulia with a vengeance, and as the Godfather himself would say: revenge is a dish that is best served cold.